Some photographers knock the idea of putting a $5 piece of glass (UV filter) in front of your $500+ piece of glass (lens). Because I can be a bit clumsy at times I have always subscribed to the concept that a uv filter is the first thing you buy when you get a new camera or lens. Plus, I have done some testing and I have found no evidence that a UV filter softens focus or degrades image quality in any regard.
The other day I had a camera mis-hap and here is what happened. At first it looks really tragic, but it’s not. The lens was fine, literally without a scratch. Since the only thing I have to replace is a $5 67mm uv filter, this confirms to me that uv filters are a good idea.
This happened to us in SA. Jen dropped the zoom lens at a restaurant, and it cracked the UV filter, but the lens is still fine. We need to get another UV though. Good reminder. Anywhere around here carry them?